A man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for leading an organized retail theft ring behind smash-and-grab heists at high-end jewelry stores across Southern California, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday.

Rodney Allen Flynt Jr. and his accomplices struck more than 14 stores in Orange, Riverside San Diego and Kern counties between April 2023 and May 2024, causing $1.5 million in losses to the businesses, according to Bonta's office.

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Some of the retailers targeted were JCPenney, Zales, Princess Jewelers and Kay Jewelers.

As part of the sentencing, Flynt was ordered to pay restitution of $1.2 million, equivalent to the amount of verified losses in merchandise from retailers.

 This marks the longest sentence we have secured in an organized retail theft case, and a major step forward in fighting retail theft in California,  Bonta said.  These theft rings harm both retailers and consumers, causing significant financial and public safety concerns. 

Other suspects involved in the thefts pleaded guilty before their preliminary hearing and were sentenced in October 2024. Christopher Pate was sentenced to four years and eight months in state prison, and Ryan Pate

received a sentence of two years and eight months, the attorney general's office said.

The investigation into Flynt and his accomplices was conducted by the California Department of Justice Organized Retail Crime Task Force in collaboration with the San Diego Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, Escondido Police Department, El Cajon Police Department, National City Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, Bakersfield Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

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